Preparation and Properties of ZnAl Layered Double Hydroxide/Polycaprolactone Nanocomposites for Use in Drug Delivery

ABSTRACT

ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (ZnAl-LDH)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanocomposites were prepared by solution intercalation method. It is shown that lamellar ZnAl-LDH is randomly distributed in the PCL matrix with diameter of 60 nm. The addition of ZnAl-LDH decreases thermal decomposition temperature of composites, but improves the elastic modulus and tensile strength. The weight loss and release amount of diclofenac of ZnAl-LDH/PCL composites are higher than that of neat PCL. The drug release kinetics for nanocomposites and neat PCL could be described by first-order kinetic and Ritger-Peppas kinetic model.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Degradation
• layered double hydroxide
• nanocomposites
• polycaprolactone
• drug release